The Catholic Diocese of Nashville has seen strong interest in its current headquarters near Hillsboro Village since word got out about its plans to buy and move to the Donelson campus of The Fellowship at Two Rivers.

Rick Musacchio, a spokesman for the diocese, expects a final decision regarding the future of the Catholic Center at 2400 21st Ave. S. sometime after August. That's when the diocese's $12.5 million acquisition of the former megachurch's 220,000-square-foot building and 37.5-acre grounds at 2800 McGavock Pike should wrap up.

"We've had inquiries about interest in selling, perhaps in leasing the property to someone," Musacchio said.

The 2.09 acres of Catholic Center property was last appraised at $3.15 million, according to the Davidson County Assessor of Property. "We've already received unsolicited offers that are more than twice that appraised value," Musacchio said.

The Fellowship's property, including the building and land that the Diocese has a contract to acquire, was most recently appraised at roughly $14 million.

The office-residential zoning on the Catholic Center property allows for 20 units per acre, meaning a buyer planning a redevelopment to residential use could get 41 apartment units built there, said Richard Exton, an appraiser with Manier and Exton. "A continued office use is potentially possible," he added. "It's one of those locations that will probably continue to increase in value."

Rob Lowe, a principal in real estate firm Cassidy Turley, said that area off 21st Avenue South has potential for office development because of its accessibility to Interstate 440 and access to younger employees who live in the emerging Belmont, 12South and Wedgewood-Houston neighborhoods. "I consider all of the older properties inside the 440 loop as potential for redevelopment," he added.

Musacchio, the diocese's spokesman, said the closing of its acquisition of The Fellowship's property isn't contingent on selling the Catholic Center. The diocese has roughly 45 employees at that building, which it has called home for 40 years.

In addition to housing offices of the bishop and the diocese, which oversees Catholic churches, schools and other ministries across Middle Tennessee, The Fellowship campus will provide more room for operations including a pastoral center and ministries now in different locations around Nashville.

"The number of Catholics has grown tremendously in recent decades," Musacchio said. "We anticipate that growth to continue as Nashville grows."

Under the pending agreement with the diocese, The Fellowship can stay at 2800 McGavock for another year, but has indicated to the diocese plans to relocate earlier.